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Shamrock FC: 284 - Preview

It's a quick turn around for Shamrock FC with a trip back to the Lumiere Casino on February 25th.

On the heels of a full house there this past Saturday, Shamrock FC 284 features a former SFC amateur champ hoping to stay unbeaten and on the undercard, one of the area's best amateur kickboxers in the state looking to continue his hot streak.

Headlining line the event - and one of only two MMA bouts on the card - is former Shamrock FC middleweight champ Shaun Scott (1-0) taking on Springfield, IL's Wes Powers (1-1).

After winning his pro debut at Gladiator MMA in a short-notice fight, Powers dropped his second fight last April to Brian Monaghan by way of submission. Powers is fairly lean for middleweight and will give up some size to Scott, who simply put, is a physical specimen.

Whereas Powers is good on his feet, Scott is an overall better grappler, and with his background in Strongman Competitions, should have a noticeable strength advantage as well. While competing as amateurs around the same time, the two never crossed paths, although they do have a common opponent in Kevin Roper with both winning by way of decision. This should be a great fight.

Becoming a staple of Shamrock's boxing division, Raymond Handson will return to face Ean Chappell. Also super-heavyweight boxer Jordan Maxey will be back to take on Roger Bush.

Both Handson, and Maxey were victorious in November at the last Shamrock FC: Xtreme event. Handson is now 4-0, and a fifth win could mean big things on the horizon and a move to six-round fights. Maxey out punched big Charles Rodgers in August, and then followed it up with a win in November against Jacob Zogg to improve to 2-0.

Jeremy Ramsey and Jeremy Sherwood round out the pro card with one of three boxing matches scheduled.

On the amateur side of things matchmaker Rob Donaker has sought out stiff competitions for a growing stable of impressive, young kickboxers including Drew Gigax, Brandon Raymer and Brandon Beatty.

Gigax returns to action after an impressive first round stoppage at Gateway Fighting Series on January 7th, and will take on undefeated kickboxer George Woods. It's impressive to watch Gigax work his craft, and you have to wonder how much longer before we see the young prospect out of Andre's Academy make the jump to the pros.

The Wolves Den's Brandon Beatty fill face Jon Roarke (6-3). Beatty is long and lanky and showed incredible technique in his last bout in November. The sky is the limit for this kid. Roarke will be a good test, as he's shown to have a pretty decent chin.

The third of the terrible trio: Brandon Raymer (13-3), a teammate of Gigax's will face Steven Summers (6-3) out of Nashville, TN.

Rounding out the preliminary card are a couple of grapplers from Watson Martial Arts, Toshi Miyatsu (purple belt) and Rodney Cotton (blue belt) looking to improve their stand-up games. Miyatsu will take on Aaron Fahr, Cotten will face Ruben Sola in kickboxing bouts.